Semi-automatic gun.



Patented Apr. I, |902. L. V. BENET.

I sem-AUTUMATIC Gun.

(Application led June 20, 1901.)

@Hoarau 0.696,851. l Patented Apr. I, |902.v

.L. V. BENET.

SEMI-AUTOMATIC GUN. Application med June-2o, 1901.)

3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

` (Nn Model.)

y UNITED STATES ATENT FFICE.

LAURENCE v. mimi, or PARIS, FRANCE.v

SEMI-AUTO MATIC GUN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 69'5,851,dated April1,1902.

pinceau 'filed June 20. 1 901 T all whom it 11mg/ concern.-

` Be it known that I, LAURENCE V. BENT,

. a citizen of the United States of America, re-

siding at 21 Rue Royale, Paris,France, have invented a certain new anduseful Improvementin Semi-Automatic Guns; and I do hereby declare thatthe following is a full, clear,

and exact specification ofthe same.

The present invention relates to that class ro of guns known asscmi-automatic guns,

zo counter-recoil of the gun, and toincrease the rate of iire of gunshavi their carriages. y

fIn the previous construction the closingspring which operates theclosin g of the breech was attached at one .end to a recoilin g part ofthe mechanism and at the other to a non-reng a long recoil on vceilingpart of the carriage or mounting.

.From this it followed that the extensioIr/of the spring, andconsequently its total length',

'5.o was proportional to the length of the recoil of the'gun. In theshort-recoil mountings consideredin the previous patent this feature wasof little moment; but. when it is desirable to give-to the gun a verylong recoil, asin the caseof field-artillery, thespring becomes longand' difficult of manufacture and is subjected to undue and destructivestrain. In the present improvement the mechanism is'so'arranged thatboth endsof the closing- 4o spring are attached to recoiling elements,

fromV which it follows that the length of the spring and the strain towhich itis subjected are' independent of the length of the recoiiof thegun and-,that'its action is limite te the simple function of closing thebreech. 'Ih the case of a short-recoil gun, as illustrated intheprevious patent, the action of the semi-automatic mechanism was suchthat the breech of .thegun remained closed during the recoil 5o and,only begantdjopen when the counterre coil was'partiallf' accomplished.This seseria No. 65,322. (No man.)

quence of movements was necessary from the fact that it is dangerous tounlock or open the breech before the pressure in the bore o f the gunhasbeen reduced to essentially that of the atmosphere. In a short-recoilgun this condition does not exist until the gun has so far recoiled thatthe remaining recoil to be accomplished is not suicieiit to operate thebreech-opening mechanism. In alongrecoil `g'uu, however,- thepressure inthe bore of the gun is reduced to that of the atmosphere long before therecoil is completed, and therefore there is no danger in opening thebreech during the latter part of the recoil of the un. By so arrangingthe mechanism n very great gain in the rapidity of fire is obtained, forthe gun may be readily reloaded during the counter-recoil, and thereforearrive in battery in readiness for tiring. 'lhns the entire timerequired;to open the breech,

reload the gun and-close'the breech is saved,

ing the time required for the recoil and the counter-recoil. The lengthofthe recoil of th'e gun and consequently the time required, is dc`-,termined by certain elements dependent .upon

fore be reduced. Hence by this invention the maximum possiblerate oflire is obtained under these special conditions. This result isaccomplished by a mechanism which is so devised that as the recoil iscompleted the breech willbe opened and thatas the gun is loaded duringthe return to batt-ery the breech will be closed during this movement.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of gun andmounting,`show ing the gun as loaded with the breech'closed and readyfor firing. Fig. 2 is one-half of the elevation similar to Fig. 1, butshowing the gun at a'ccrtain stage of its recoil. Fig..5 is Aanelevation similar to Fig. 1, but showing the gun at a certain furtherstage of its recoil. Fig; 6 is anelevation similar' to Fig. 1, butshowing the gun at a certain further sta-ge as it has completed itsrecoil and is about to return to battery. Figs. 7 and S are details relating tot-he extractor.

all of these operations being performed dur.

extract 'and eject the spent-.cartridge case', to

fthe nature of the service and canliO- there.

corresponding viewin plan. Fig. 3 is a crosssection on thelineAAofFig. 1. Fig. 4is an `4-5 combination with-the gun-mount',

tu'ati'ng-rod carried by'the gun and engagingthe gun-mount at anypredetermined point of the recoil of the gun for operating said breechVmechanism against the action of said spring',

substantially as'described.

3. In along-recoil semi-automatic gun, the combination with the gun-bodyand breech mechanism, of a spring under tension carried by the gun-bodyand connected to said gunro body and'said breech mechanism,- a rod car-Aried by the gun and operatedby engagement with the gun-mount at an'ypredetermined point of the recoil of the gun for actuating saidbreechmechanism against the action of i5 said spring, and independent meansfor hold- ,ing the breech mechanism in the open posi-vv tion and forreleasing the same, substantiallS'7A as described.

4. In a long-recoil semi-automatic gun,the

2o combination withv the gun-mount, the gunbody and breech mechanism, ofa spring nnder tension carried bythe gun-body, and con-v nected to saidgun-bodywand said breech 4-nlech'anism,au voperating-lever, and an actuz5 ating-rod engaging a stop on the gun-mount" at any predetermined pointof the recoil, for

actuating said breech mechanism against the action of said spring,substantially as described. 1

5. In a long-recoil semi-automatic gun, the

combination with the gun-mount, the gun. body and breech mechanism, of aspring under tension carried by the gun-body, and connected t o said gunbody and -said breech 3 5 mechanism, anoperating-lever, and ariactuating-rod engaging a stop on the gun-mount' at any predeterminedpoint of the recoil, for actpating said breech mechanism against theactionot said spring, and independent means 4o for holding said breechmechanism in the open position and for releasing the same to beautomatically closed by said spring, substantially as described.

6. In a longrecoil semi-automatic gun, the

the gunbody and breech mechanism, of a spring under tension carried bythe gun-body, and connected to 'said gun-body and said breech mechanism,an operating-lever and an actu'- 5o ating-rod engaging ,a stop on the'gun-mount at any predetermined point of the recoil, for actuating saidbreech'mechanism against the action of saidspring, and fan extractor forholding said breech mechanism in the open position and for releasingthesame to be automatically clsed by said spring, substantially asdescribed.

7. In a long-recoil semi-automatic gun, the

combination with the gun-body and breech 6o mechanism, of aspring'nnderptension carried by the gun-body'and lconnected to saidgun-bodyand said breech/mechanism, an acmating-rod carried' by the gunandA engaging "the gun-mount, at any'predetermined point of the recoilfof the gun for operating said breech mechanism against the action ofsaidl spring, and an extractor locking the breech mechanism in the openposition and auto.-

matically releasing same on the insertion oiY va cartridge,substantially as described.

8. .In along-recoil semi-automatic gun, the combination with thegun-body and breech mechanism, of a spring under tension-carried by thegun-body and connected to body and said breech mechanism,

said guna rod-carried by the-gun and operated by engagement with thegun-mount at anypredetermined point of the recoil of the gun for,actuating said breech mechanism against the action of= A said spring andthen releasing said mechanism, and an extractor automatically holdingthebreech mechanism -in the open position and automatically releasingthesame, on the insertion-of a cartridge-case,substantially as described.

9. In a long-recoil semi-automatic gun, the combination with'thegun'body and breechblock, and a lever for operating said breechblock,having a downwardlyprojecting arm, of a spring nnder tensionearried bythe gunbody .andconnected to said gun-body and to said lever ad argdpivoted to the lower arm of said'wlever andoper'ated by engagement t atanypredetermined with the lgun mu pointbf -the recoil of ,the gun forrocking said lever-against t'he action of said .spring and th ns vmovingsaid breech-block to the open position, substantially, as-described.

10. In a long-recoil semi-automatic gun,the

combination With'the gun-body and .breechblock,and a lever foroperatingsaid breechblock, having a downyvardly-projecting arm, of a spring undertensin carried by lche gunbody and connected to said gun-body and to Asaid lever,^a rod pivoted to the lower arm of said lever and operated byengagement with the gun-mount at an predetermined point of the recoil oflthe gun", for rocking said lever against the action of said spring, andthus moving said breech-block to the open posiion, and independent meansfor` holding the breech-block in the open position and forre- IIOleasing same when desired", substantially as described.-

11. In a long-recoil semi-automatic giur-,the

combination with the. gun-body andbreech-v block, and a lever foroperating said breechblock, having a downwardly-projectingarm;' gunireleasing the same on the insertion of a car-l tridge-case,substantially as described'.`

12. In a long-recoil semi-automatic gun,the combination -with thegun-mount, Ithe gun- -prede i body and breech mechanism, of a springnnder tension carried yby the gun-body, andconv nected to said `gnn bodyand said'breechl mechanism, an operating-lever, an actuating' rodengaging a stop on the'gnn-rnount at anypredetermined pointof ltherecoil, for`actnat-- ing said breech mechanism against the action cfsaid spring, and means for throwing'. said rod ont of engagement withthe gun-mount when the breech is completely open, snbstan-- tially asdescribed.

13.v In along-recoil semi-automaticgumthe combination with'thegun-mount, the gun-I bcdy and breech mechanism, cfa springiinder tensioncarried by the gunlbody, and con.- eted to aid gun body and said breechnis i, an operating-lever, an actuatingring a stop on the gn-'mount atany ofy said spring,means operated by said lever for throwing said rodont'of engagement with the gun-mount whenthe breech is completelyopcn,and independent means for holding said breech mechanism in the openpositionfand for releasing the same to he automatically closed by saidspring; substantially as described.

ist. Ina long-recoil semieautomatic gnn,the combination. with thegnnfmonnt, Athe, gun# body and breech mechanism, ofiaspringnnder tensioncarried by the gun-body, andconnected to said gun-bodyandsaidbreech'mech;v anisrng-an operating-lever, an actuating-rod' engaging astop on the gun-mount at any predetermined point of 'the recoil, foractuating said nreech mechanism against the action'of said spring, meansoperated bysaid lever f or- 'throwing said rod ont of engagement withthe gunt-mount 'whenftbe breech is completely body and said breechmechanism', an actuating-red carried by the gun and-engaging thegun-,mount at any predetermined pomt of the yrecoil of thegnnfor-operating said -breech mechanismll'gainst 'the action of saidspring,

, means `operated by said lever for throwing saidlrod ont '.ofengagementWith the gun:v

mount when the breech is completely open, and an extractor locking thebreech mechanism in the open position and automatically releasing sameon the insertion of a cartridge,

substantially as described. l

1G. ln a long-recoil. semi-automatic gnn,thc

Ycombination 1with, the gnu-body and`-breech` iinedpoint of the recoil,for actnat-"- said breech mechanism against the action described.;

block, hayinga downwardly-projectin g arm,

ofa springt-under tension carried ,bythe gun- 'bodyand-c'o'mected tosaid gun-body and to '65 said leveigla rod pivoted lto the'lower arm of-"s'aid leverand operated by engagement with the gun-mount atanypredeterminedpoint o t the. recoil 'of thefgun yfor rocking said.4lever against the action of said spring, and bearingfo faces on saidlowerar'm and onsaid rod to automaticallytrip the latter clear ofengage-l ment with said" gL in-1nonnt Whe'nthc breech iscompltely'vopen'. g

17. In a long-recoil semi-automatic gn n,the combination with thegun-body and breechblock, andajlever for operating said breech!bloclghaving a downward]y-projecting larm, ot" a spring under tensioncarried bythe gunbody and connectedrto Vsaid gun-body and to 8o saidlever, a rod pivoted to the lower arm of said leverv and operated byengagen'ient with the gun-mount'at any predetermined point of the recoilofthe gun, for/rocking said lever against 'thelac'tion of said spring,and thn's 85 movingfsaid breech-block rto tlievopen position,bearing-faces yon sadvlo'wer arm and on said rod to automaticallytripthelattcr clear" of engage-ment with said gn-mount .when the breech iscompletely open, and independent '9o means vfor holding the breech-blockin thc open position and for releasing same when de,

sired, substantially as described.

i 1S. In a long-recoil semi-automaticgnn,thc

combina-tion with the gnn-bodywaudbreechf '.block, and a lever foroperating said breechblock, havinga'downwardly-projecting arm, of aspringvnnder tension carried by the gunbody andconnected to saidgnn-body and' to said-lever, a -rod pivoted to the lower arm of losVsaid lever 'and operated by engagement with the gn'n-monntat anypredetermined point of th-e'recoil'of the gnn, for rocking said leveragainst'the action of said spring andthns movingsaidbreech-block to theopen position, bearing-faces on said lower arm and on said rod toautomatically trip the latter clear of engagement with said-gun-mountvwhen the- .breech is ycompletely open, and an extractor holding thebreech-block in the open position 1 i/o and automatically releasing thesame on the" insertion of a cartridge-case, substantially as' InWi'tnesswliereof I have-hereunto s et my hand,this Sth day of June,1001, in the presA x15 -enceof subscribingwitnessesi l LAUREN@I VQBEN"1f fitnesses'z ALFRED C. Kommen, EDWARD l. MACLEAN, C. KURER.

